Quisquiliae Couture

Our global economic system depends on the overconsumption of disposable consumer goods and causes pollution, health hazards, and ecological catastrophe. So, I worked with discarded plastic, food packaging, newspapers, magazines, and other unwanted materials to create a fashion collection that includes a couture gown and hat. I wanted to explore graphic, industrial, and fashion design through my upcycling work by constructing patterns, shapes, and volumes for both objects. To show my attention to craftsmanship techniques that are sometimes not considered “high art,” I used embroidery and weaving methods to construct the pieces, I also selected a color palette and a specific draping style that transformed the trash into “haute couture.” This collection addresses several systems in our world that urgently need attention, including our polluted oceans, declining publishing industry, and changing climate.